Flood Grant Program to Let Communities Consider Rising Seas Due to Climate Change

State and local leaders can now consider expected sea level rise due to climate change when applying for grants to help prevent property damage along coastlines, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Monday.

FEMA's deputy associate administrator for mitigation, Roy Wright, said in a memo to regional directors obtained by The Huffington Post that the agency will "fund cost effective hazard mitigation projects that include sea level rise estimates."  The guidance pertains to FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance program, one of the few proactive programs for reducing risks along the coastal United States.  The program allows communities to apply for grants to do things like raise homes and businesses above the flood plain.

Flood Grant Program to Let Communities Consider Rising Seas Due to Climate Change